Microsoft has issued emergency out-of-band updates to address critical bugs in Windows 11 that prevented users from shutting down their PCs and logging in via Remote Desktop. The company released the patches after its January 2026 security updates introduced two major issues that went undetected during testing.
The Critical Issues
The bugs affected multiple versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10, breaking essential functionality for both personal and enterprise users. The primary issues included:
- PC shutdown failures: Devices with Secure Launch experienced shutdown and hibernation problems on Windows 11 version 23H2
- Remote Desktop connection failures: Users unable to sign in to devices when using Remote Desktop connections across Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, as well as Windows 10 version 22H2
The Fix
Microsoft released three out-of-band updates to resolve the issues:
- KB5077744: For Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2
- KB5077797: For Windows 11 version 23H2
- KB5077796: For Windows 10 Extended Support Updates
These patches are available through Windows Update and rolling out to all users.
Part of a Larger Pattern
This incident represents the latest in a troubling series of quality control issues affecting Windows 11. Recent updates have caused Task Manager to fail to close, File Explorer to flash white screens in dark mode, and Windows Recovery Environment to become inaccessible. These severe bugs raise questions about the effectiveness of Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program testing process.
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